Assessment of Status: Partially Complete

Progress has been made by the National Park Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to continue to enhance opportunities for hunters with disabilities. In addition, hunting is being incorporated into agencies' planning processes. The WHHCC has worked on addressing recreational shooting in management plans. These examples, though, are site specific and there has been no nationally coordinated effort. Additionally, further work remains to make public lands public and to ensure the opportunities for shooting areas.

Supporting documentation and findings

Communication with Bert Frost and Elaine Leslie of the NPS 2.14.13

Cases exist of the National Park Service improving hunting opportunities for the disabled. For example, a hunters with disabilities hunt is held to help control Sika deer populations in Assateague Island National Seashore. The hunt is conducted in partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Wheelin’ Sportsmen Outreach Program.

National Wildlife Refuges provide opportunities to hunt for persons with disabilities. Examples include the Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge and the Lost Mound Unit of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge amongst others.

Bills entitled "Making Public Lands Public" have been introduced in both the House and the Senate. These bills would allocate 1.5% of the requested dollars for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act to making difficult to access federally owned lands more available to public access.